Another pair of 20-year-olds from the Western Hockey League have signed with the Reign.

Former Brandon Wheat Kings forward Aaron Lewadniuk and former Portland Winterhawks defenseman Eric Doyle bring a touch of offense to a Reign squad that has ranked last in the ECHL in goal-scoring both years of its existence.

Along with former Kamloops Blazers center C.J. Stretch, the Reign already have three rookies from the WHL under contract for 2010-11.

Lewadniuk, 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, described himself as a forward who “likes to get in the corners and come out with the puck.”

“I like to be in front of the net, where the puck is,” he said. “On my knees or jumping for it, I’ll do anything to put the puck in the net.”

As a teammate of 2009 Kings draft pick Brayden Schenn, Lewadniuk actually scored more goals than Schenn last year (37 to 34), albeit in six more games. Lewadniuk also had 49 assists, for a total of 86 points in 65 games.

Only three Wheat Kings had more points than Lewadniuk last season, and all of them (Schenn, Matt Calvert and Scott Glennie) have been drafted by NHL teams.

A native of Carman, Manitoba, Lewadniuk also has a training camp audition with the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose.

Doyle, a 6-2, 192-pound defenseman from Calgary, started the regular season with the Swift Current Broncos before he was traded to Portland. He finished with six goals and 37 points in 56 regular-season games. In 13 playoff games he added a goal and eight points – second among Portland defensemen to California native Taylor Aronson, who was drafted by the Nashville Predators in June.

“I think of myself as a two-way defenseman,” Doyle said. “I like to contribute offensively. I can quarterback the power play and kill penalties.”

In 2008-09, he set career highs with 12 goals, 55 points and a plus-25 rating in 71 games for Swift Current. Doyle’s credentials were strong enough to earn an AHL contract offer, but he opted to sign with the Reign and expand his options for promotion.

Doyle will try out at the Manchester Monarchs’ AHL camp, but admits there is room for improvement in his game.

“One area I want to work on is the strength side, and also my defensive-zone play,” he said. “I’m not known for my speed, but I try and have good positioning, so I don’t need to skate too much.”

He is more familiar with Stretch than most.

“He knocked me out cold earlier this year,” Doyle said. “It was just a collision – I was just taking a shot and he went to hit me. I guess he just caught me with my head down. I talked to him later in the year; he apologized. There’s no hard feelings.”

Veterans Jon Francisco and Chad Starling have also re-signed with the Reign for 2010-11.

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